THE UNITED THANK OFFERING BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICE · 12/1/2014 · THE UNI TE D THA NK O FFE RI NG...

THE UNITED THANK OFFERING

BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICE

T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E

O U R C H A N G E C H A N G E S L I V E S

The United Thank Offering Prayer

Gracious God, source of all creation, all love, all true joy: accept we pray

these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all

of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and

challenge that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these

gifts through the outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask

through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Collecting our pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and dollar bills connects us with

people all over the world!

Little Blue Boxes: an opportunity to practice thankfulness

Every Penny for Grants: sharing our blessings



United Thank Offering Ingathering Why is it so important?

• Ingatherings are teaching moments to share the theology of thankfulness.

• Ingatherings twice a year give people an opportunity to present their blessings…a Holy Action.

• Ingatherings start the journey of the tangible blessing to fund grants to people all over the world.

North Dakota Ingathering



Western Massachusetts Ingathering

Parish Ingathering Overview How does it work?

• Twice a year request parishioners bring their Blue Box offerings to church.

• Make sure your treasurer has a restricted account as every penny goes to UTO for granting.

• $1.5 million was given for grants in 2014.

Make it a fun day!



INGATHERING in the PARISH

Parish Coordinators are the heart of UTO in the parish and inspire

parishioners to practice thankfulness. They:

• Communicate with clergy and parishioners to gather funds twice a

year. Fall and Spring are good times representing growth and harvest.

• Request that the coins are counted and a bill or check is put in an

envelope with their name or pledge #.

• UTO envelopes can be put in the bulletin or pew.

• Ingatherings are always counted by two unrelated people.



INGATHERING in the PARISH

• Funds are deposited in an account of the parish

• Communicate with the parish treasurer to:

• set up a designated and restricted fund for UTO;

• get a report on the fund balance;

• request funds be sent by the preferred diocesan method twice a

year; one check is recommended.

• Communicate the offering total to the parish.

• The parish pledge secretary includes individual UTO offerings on the giving

statement.



INGATHERING: In the Diocese • Diocesan Coordinators communicate with parish

coordinators and arrange for parishes to bring or

send on their parish offerings: • Some dioceses have the parish offering go directly to the

diocese, sometimes in person, sometimes by mail.

• Some dioceses have the parish offering collected through the

diocesan ECW, often at a regularly scheduled Ingathering.

• Some dioceses have the parish offering sent directly from the

parish to the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society lock box.



INGATHERING: In the Diocese

• When counting money two unrelated, authorized people, are always present and funds are deposited in an authorized account. • More information will become available on best practices for establishing

accounts.

• Recording ingathered amounts and writing thank you notes and aknowledgements is important. • If you write acknowledgements for tax purposes there is wording that must be

used.

• Sample text will be available on the UTO website soon.

• Financial practice varies from diocese to diocese, but there are best practices that must be followed.





Whatever the diocesan tradition, the diocesan

UTO coordinator ensures the funds reach the

UTO office.

Checks are made out to: “DFMS” ,with “UTO” and

name of diocese, and diocese # if you have it, in

the memo.

Look at a UTO application forms at: Unitedthankoffering.org episcopalchurch.org/uto

UTO Grants Change Lives



http://www.unitedthankoffering.org/

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/uto

United Thank Offering Grants • Grants are for new

ministries—a way to get a good idea started.

• Dioceses are invited to submit one regular grant application.

• Dioceses are invited to submit one grant application on behalf of their companion diocese.

T H E U N I T E D T H A N K O F F E R I N G B E S T F I N A N C I A L P R A C T I C E S


Financial Practices: Grants • Dioceses are invited to submit one grant application and an additional application

on behalf of a companion diocese.

• All grants must have the approval of the diocesan bishop or both bishops for

companion grants.

• It is recommended that all dioceses have a grant screening committee with the

diocesan UTO coordinator sitting on that committee.

• Once a grant request is funded, the bishop receives a letter and the funds are

released to the diocesan treasurer.

• The diocesan UTO coordinator should get a copy of the letter from the Province

UTO representative. Check in with the diocese if you don’t.

• The diocese must submit forms within one year, accounting for all funds spent on

the awarded grant project.

• Sample forms will be available on the UTO Website in the near future.





• If the funds are released to another organization, that entity must

provide the diocese documentation for the funds, but the diocese is

responsible for the final reporting.

• Sample forms will be available on the UTO Website in the near

future.

• Keep copies of all grant paperwork: UTO coordinators and diocesan

office. These records can be digitally archived.

• A team approach is best, involving the grant recipient, the diocesan

UTO coordinator, the bishop or his or her designee, the bishop’s

administrative assistant and the diocesan treasurer.

UTO Website

UnitedThankOffering.org

http://www.unitedthankoffering.org/

MEMORIAL AND GIFT TRUST FUND

• Established in 1982 to cover administration expense, so

every penny from Ingatherings is used for grants.

• Earnings from investments provide:

• travel and expenses for the volunteer Board and UTO Staff

• materials for diocesan and parish UTO coordinators.

• Gifts given are tax deductible.



Please mail Memorial and Gift Trust Fund checks to:

United Thank Offering

DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church

815 Second Ave.

New York, NY 10017

episcopalchurch.org/page/manual-business-methods



Or Google: Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs

A good resource for financial best practice

Communicate - Communicate - Communicate

Susan Howland: [email protected]

http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/manual-business-methods








A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with

one accord to make our common supplication to you; and

you have promised through your well-beloved Son that

when two or three are gathered together in his Name you

will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires

and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this

world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life

everlasting. Amen.

THE UNITED THANK OFFERING BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICE · 12/1/2014 · THE UNI TE D THA NK O FFE RI NG...

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